Sheet ejecting mechanism in bed and platen printing machines



Aug. 5, 1952 E J. R. THOMAS SHEET EJECTING MECHANISM IN BED AND PLATEN PRINTING MACHINE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed May 11, 1949 Aug. 5, 1952 J. R. THOMAS SHEET EJECTING MECHANISM IN BED AND PLATEN PRINTING MACHINE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed May 11, 1949 fiatented Aug. 5, 1 952 sneer EJE'GTING tPLATEN PRINTINGZMACHINES James Thomas,Arlington fieiglitsllllas'signor I g to J osephh. Weber, Mount Prospect, Ill.

MEoHAN-"rs MIN BEn Application May 1-1, 1949, Serial No. 92,667

12 clai (or 101-1287) This invention relates to a .new and improved chinemcorporating the article ejeotin mechae article ejecting mechanism :for imprinting madresing machine for utilizing themovement-of the stamping head to transmit, energy to an ejecting mechanism for causing automatic discharge of an addresse'darticlesuch-as a :card

or envelope. a

A further important object of this invention isto supply time delay means for the commencement of operation of the article ejecting mechanism w-hereupon the stamping or imprinting head is completelywithdrawn irom the article before the article is ejected. Another important object of this inventionis to provide a mechanism responsive to vertical swinging-movement of an imprinting machine head for ejecting an article previously im-printed.

Another and further. important object of this invention is the provisioin of'a spring motor energizable by movement of astampin'g machine imprinting head and means for transmitting the rotary power of the spring motor to an article ejecting wheel.

, Another and: still further important object of this invention is to provide brake means for normally' preventing rotation of an article ejecting wheel and means associated with a stamping head for eflectin release of the brake means only when the stamping head i in its uppermost or non-printing position.

-A still. further object of this invention i the supplying of a rubber coveredartiole ejecting wheellocated adjacent the surface of a platen on an'addresing machine and spring means for holding an article to be ejected down on said rubber covered wheel.

Other and further .importantobjects of this invention willbecome apparent 'from the disclosures in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

' :In the drawings:

ir-Figuredis anendjview of theaddressing maor supportingstructure 12.

msm. A v

"Eigure'2 is airont elevational view partially in section of the machine of 'Eigurel. v 'Figure 3 an enlarged sectional View on the line '3'% of Figure 2 As shown in the drawings:

* -The reference-numeral t0- indicates'generally abase upon which the-machine of-this {invention is mounted. A housing or supporting structure I2 is carried on the base it and is equipped with a top or platen Ml ,On the platen is; mounted .a rubber strip it against which -I S-is adapted to be pressed a. stamping 'head The I stamping-.- h ead; 8 is 1 Quiltedon a pair Of spaced L-shaped arms zdand zl. The arm s are held rigidly :spaced 'apart Joy the stamping head l8 and are pivotedior swinging movement to.- .ward and away from the platen on spaced brackets 22 audit iorming a partof the sup;- porting structure 12. A hinge pin 25 is adapted to pass through-the brackets 2-2-and g l andthe L-shaped arms 20 andZl. The spacing of the arms 2-0 and His further facilitated-loyal. cross handle 28ymounted at the forward-ends of the arms. "A copy roll "38 is carried in a supply reel 32 and passes 1 down and beneath the stamping head 48 and is attached to a take-upreel 34. A hand crank 36 is; adapted to rotate-the supply reel 32 andrewindthe copy r011 30 onto the supply reel fromathe take-up reel. lT-hi partic- -ular constructionandapparatus is shown more .fully in the pcopending application lfmientioned above. 3 v

The portions of .theL-shapedarms which depend be neath the hinge'pin 26 and the platen l4 are designated jbythe-numerals 3'8 and 353. These depending portions -38 and 39 of the irshapedarms are swingable withingthe housing As -bestshown in Figure 1-a.U-shapedsupporting strapflllisfixed 10y any suitable means'; suchyas welding to the supportingstructure l2. The upwardly extending legs -of the U;strap=aredesignated 'by-the numerals G'Z and' M. As shown in the-enlarged sectional view of Figure =3 these U 1egs'42 and 44' carry a shaft 46-f or "free journaled; rotation 'wi i al sn d; op nin s andrs flh li e openings -48 and -50 are relatively :close to the upwardly through an opening 56. in platen 1.4. Itvshouldbe noted that the upperextension of the wheel 52. is substantially equal in height level to the height of the rubber strip I6 against which the stamping head I8 is compressed. The wheel 52 is used as an article ejecting wheel capable of moving those articles which have been imprinted from their position on the platen beneath the stamping head I8. The wheel 52 in addition to having a rubber cylindrical body section 54 is equipped with metal side plates 58 and 60. The side plate 66 has an integral elongated bearing sleeve 62 which provides a substantial bearing surface for the wheel 52 on the shaft 46. The wheel 52 is held 'togetheras a unit by rivets or the like 63 which pass through the side plates 58 and 60 as well asthe intermediate rubber section 54.

A spring 64 surrounds one portion of the shaft 46 and is anchored at 66 on the U leg 42'. The other end of the coil spring 64 is anchored at 68 on the shaft 46. It will thus be understood that when the shaft 46 is rotated against the action of the spring 64 there will be a normal tendency of the spring to unwind and turn the shaft 46 in the opposite direction from which it was originally turned. In other words-the shaft 46 will always tend to resume its original position. Thus the shaft 46 and the spring64 with its particular anchoring mountings constitutes a spring motor through which the article ejecting wheel of this invention obtains its rotation. 7

A winch or spool formed integrally with the shaft 46 is designated by the numeral III. Positioned adjacent the winch I9 and forming an integral part of the-shaft 46 and also the winch I is a ratchet wheel 12 having regular ratchet teeth I3. The ratchet wheel I2 terminates close ly, adjacent the freely journaled article ejecting wheel 52. A pawl-I4 is hinged ona screw shaft 16 which threadedly engages wheel 52- and particularly side plate 58 thereof. A hook I8 -is formed integrally with the pawl and extends beyond the pivotal attachment defined by the shaft I6. ,A spring 80 is anchored on the hook I8 and extends downwardly to a post 82 projecting from the side plate 58 of the article ejecting wheel 52. The spring 80 thus normally urges the pawl I4 into engagement with the ratchet wheel'teeth I3. The pawl and ratchet just described will effect rotation of the article ejecting wheel 52 by the shaft 46 when'the shaft is rotating in one direction, but not when-the shaft is rotating in the other direction. --Thus' the pawland ratchet provide a one-way clutch device.

As best shown in Figure 1 a cross brace member 84 is welded or otherwise fastened to and between the spaced U member legs 42 and 44. The brace is positioned substantially midway between the top and bottom of the housing I2. The cross brace 84 in addition to providing rigidity to the structure of the device of this invention is adapted to support a pair of closely spaced guide pulleys 86 and 88. Cap screws 90 and 92 hold the pulleys 86 and 88 respectively onto the brace 84 and simultaneously provide journal shaft supports for the pulleys The screws 90 and 92 are maintained in a position to permit unhindered rotation of the pulleys. In addition to the pulleys the cross brace carries a brake arm 94. A cap screw 96 is adapted to hold the brake-arm to the brace 84'and-is loose enough to permit swinging of the brake arm about the cap screw as a hinge. A spring 98 'is fastened to a pin I00 on the lowerextension of the brake arm 94 and at its other end the spring is anchored to a post member I92 on the U member 46. The upper end of the brake arm designated by the numeral I04 is normally in contact with the lower periphery of the wheel 52 thus preventing rotation of that wheel. As best shown in Figure 2 a cross rod or bar I06 joins the lower ends of the depending arms 38 and 39 of the L-shaped members 20 and 2|. This rod IDS is adapted to engage the lower depending portion of the brake arm 94 and by so doing shifts the arm about its hinge 96 against the action of the spring 98 to release the brake from the article ejecting wheel 52.

A cable I96 is fastened at one end to a screw member IIII mounted on the supporting structure. The member IIII acts as an adjustable winch. An opening H2 in the base board I0 permits engagement of the screw member by a screw driver or the like to thus vary the effective length of the cable I68 by rotation thereof. The cable may be wound on the screw winch IIII so thatits operating length may be anything desired, The cable extends rearwardly and is passed around the rod I96 thereupon coming forwardly to a position between the pair of guide pulleys 86 and 83 and thence moves upwardly to the winch Hi. The winch is provided with a hole I I4 in the side flange thereof through which the cable may pass and be knotted as shown at I I5 to hold it fixed with respect to the winch.

As best shown in Figure 1 a-spring H6 is attached to the lower end of the arm 36 at H8 and at its upper end is attached to the supporting structure I2 at I26. The spring thus normally urges the stamping head upwardly away from the platen I4. 7

.A reservoir tank I22 carries an ink dissolving solution which is adapted to be applied to the article to be imprinted by means of the cooperative roller members I24 and I26 as best shown in. Figure 2. This apparatus and particularly the application of the solution to the envelopes or cards to be addressed is shown more specifically, in the copending application mentioned above. The lower roller member is 'under pressure by means of the leaf spring I28 normally urging it upwardly against the roller I24. Similarly a leaf spring I30 is anchored on the supporting structure I2 at I32 by means of a screw member I34 and cooperates to hold articles being imprinted down on the ejecting wheel 52.

In operation, cards or envelopes or the like are adapted to be inserted along the platen I4 whereupon the rolls I24 and I26 apply ink dissolving solution to the article to be imprinted and the article is moved to a position beneath the stamping head and over'the rubber strip I6. The article is now under pressure of the leaf spring I36 and keeps the article placed in proper imprinting position as well as in rolling contact with the ejecting wheel 52. The stamping head I8 is then moved do-wnwardly by the handle 28 onto the card or envelope by a manual swinging of the L-shaped arms. Immediately upon moving the stamping head downwardly along the copyroll 39 for transfer of the imprinted matter thereon to the card or envelope to be addressed the brake arm 94 is under the action of the spring 98 and the wheel 52 is prevented from rotating. Concurrently with the releasing of the brake arm 94 the cable IE8 is pulled downwardly from the winch 10 by reason of the rod I06 moving toward the rearward end of the machine in an arcuate path about the hinge pin 26.. This causes the winch in to rotate as the several wind- E ings of the cable are" removed therefrom and simultaneously the shaft it 'rotates causing the spring fil'towind up or'inother words to be placed undel-"c'ompression; Similarlythe'ratch'et l2 ro cable therefrom-the pawl and ratchet will not clutchor join the ratchet wheel '52 with the article" ejecting wheel"52 to cause'concurrent ro'-" tatien. Thus when the shaft "46 rotates by an gets-attunwinding of the icable'fromfthe' winch 12 the ejectingwheel is'stati nary. j Howeverithespring" motor is energized withirotary motion byvaiwind ing upof the spring '64; Immediate unwinding of theshaft '46 anda rotation of the ejecting \izheel is prevented by reason ofjfjthe' brake 94 having'its portion 104' engaging the wheel5'2 and preventing any rotation thereof." 1 However, as the stampmg head l8 ismo've'd away from the platen and the "article previouslyimprinted,"the cross rod {I @Sistrikes the bottor'n'o'f' the 'brake'arrh 94' causinga release of the brake and quick spinning of wheel 52 to automatically move thearticle just imprinted in a rightward direction offth'eplaten Hi. I It is very essential to'have the time delay between the imprintingjof the article and the ejecting of the article fonthe reason'that should the ejecting wheel 52 immediatelyactuate' upon the stamping head making its impression on the article overfthe platen the imprinted matter would invariably be"smearedzandjwould prevent" continued use of the copy'roll' 36; It isthus an important factor in the successfuloperation of this machine to brake the ejecting wheel 52 until the stamping head is is moved fully clear of the imprinted matter and thereafter eifect a releasingof; the brake member 94 by the cross rod I96. The spring arm I maintains the envelope or card in contact with the wheel '52 and after the brake 9:3 is released the pawland ratchet lock up to impart rotation from the shaft 46 and its spring motor to the ejecting wheel52. The shaft is permitted to unwind to drive-the wheel 52- after it had been previously wound by the downward movement of the stamping "head; The *article just'addressed isthereupon automatically ejected whenthe stamping'head-is'm'oved clear of the article so that therewillbe'noismearing of the Numerous details of construction may be varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles disclosed herein and I therefore do not propose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

I. An ejecting mechanism in combination with an article imprinting machine comprising a supporting structure, a platen carried on said supporting structure and extending in a generally transverse direction, an arm pivotally mounted on the supporting structure on an axis substantially parallel tothe platen, a stamping head mounted on said arm in a manner toengage said platen when the arm is swung downwardly about its hinge, a longitudinally extending shaft carried on said supporting structure beneath said platen, an article moving Wheel journaled on said shaft and having a portion thereof extending above said platen, means on said shaft for accumulating rotary energy by downward movement of said stamping head arm, brake means normany "e ngagingsaid-"wheel and preventing rota: tion; meansfor imparting the accumulatedrotary energy to said wheel, and brake release means associated with said piv'otally' mounts-id arm wherebywhen'thejstamping' head is in'itsjup out of "plate'n' engaging posit-ion thebralte release means is adapted 'to releasethe brake'means' from said wheel and thus permit rotation of said wheeland a lateralejecting of the article just imprinted. y f ZI'Ali ejecting 'rne'chanisma set forthin Claim lin whichithe means for imparting the accumu lated': 'otary' energy to saidwheel comprises- .a pat 'a'nd ratchet. V t I ,3 A deviee as set'fo'rtli in claim 1 in which the article imoving wheel is equipped with a rubber periphery'for more effective ejection'of imprinted articles. I f

4. A'device as set' 'forth in claiml inw'hich a yieldable arnelenoid down means is mounted, on

the" supporting structure above the platen and'' arranged and constructed to hold articles down against the article moving wheel.

5. An ejecting mechanism as set forth claim 1 in which the means on the shaft for accumulating rotary energy includes a spring motor.

6'. Adevice as set forth in claim 5 further in cluding cable means extending from thefpivoted arm to the 'springmotor whereby when" the arm isflarcuately moved the spring motor is wound by the cable means.

7. An ejecting mechanism in combination with an article imprinting machine comprising a'supporting structurafa platen carried on said sup-5 porting structure and extending in a generally transverse 'direction,fan arm pivotally mounted on the supportiiigstructure on an axisfsubstantially parallel to the platen, a'stamping head mounted on said armdn iam'an'ner to engage said platen when the arm isswung'downwardly' about'its hinge, a longitudinally extending'shaft carried on said supporting structure beneath said'plat'en, an article moving wheel journaled on said shaft and having a portion thereof extending above said 'platen,-means on said shaft for accumulating rotary energy by downward movement of said stamping head arm, brake means normally engaging-saidwh'eel and preventing rotation, means for imparting'the ac cumulated rotary energy to said wheel, and brake release means associated with said pivotally mounted arm whereby when the stamping head is in its up out of platen engaging position the brake release means is adapted to release the brake means from said wheel and thus permit rotation of said wheel and a lateral ejecting of ward swinging movement of the arm causes a pulling 'of the cable from the winch, and thus also a rotational movement of the winch which winds the coil spring to put it under considerable rotary tension.

8. A device as set forth in claim 7 in which the means for imparting the accumulated energy to said wheel comprises one-way clutch means on said wheel and cooperative clutch means on said winch, said clutch means arranged and constructed whereby when thecoil spring is Wound up no rotary motion will be transmitted therebetween but when the coil spring is released the rotary motion will be transmitted between the clutch means so that the article moving wheel shall be rotated.

9. An ejecting mechanism in combination with an article imprinting machine comprising a supportin structure, a platen carried on said supporting structure and extending in a generally transverse direction, an arm pivotally mounted on the supporting structure on an axis substantially parallel to the platen, a stamping head mounted on said arm in a manner to engage said platen whenthe arm is swung downwardly about its hinge, a longitudinally extending shaft carried on said supporting structure beneath said platen, an article moving wheel journaled on said shaft and having a portion thereof extending above said platen, means on said shaft for accumulatin rotary energy by downward movement of said stamping head arm, brake means normally engaging said wheel and preventing rotation, means for imparting the accumulated rotary energy to said wheel, and brake release means associated with said pivotally mounted arm whereby when the stamping head is in its up out of platen engaging position the brake release means is adapted to release the brake means from said wheel and thus permit rotation of said Wheel and a lateral ejecting of the article just imprinted, said means on the shaft for accumulating rotary. energy including a spring motor, said pivoted arm having adownward extension below the pivot axis and beneath the platen, a pulley means on said downward extension near the bottom thereof, .a cable attached to said spring motorIand extended around said pulley means and thereupon anchored on said supporting structure spaced from said pulley means whereupon swinging movement of the stamping head and associated arm causes a foreshortening of the cable and a direct winding of the spring motor.

10. An ejecting mechanism as set forth in claim 9 in which the means for imparting the accumulated rotary'energy to said wheel comprises pawl means and ratchet means each of which is mounted on said spring motor or said wheel.

11. An ejecting mechanism as set forth in claim 9 in which the means for imparting the accumu-" lated rotary energy to said wheel comprises pawl means on said wheel and ratchet means on said spring motor whereby drive between the spring motor and article moving 'wheel is accomplished only in one direction.

. 12.. An ejecting mechanism in combination with an articleimprinting machine comprising a supporting'structure, a platen carried on said sup portingv structure and extending in a generally transverse direction, an arm hingedly mounted on said supporting structure for vertical swinging movement, a stamping head carried on said arm, said stampinghead adapted in a down position to engage said platen and in an up position-to lbespaced' above said platen, a longitudinallyextending shaft carried on said supporting structure beneath said platen, an article moving wheeljournaled on said shaft, and having a portion thereof extending above said platen, spring motor means positioned between the arm and the wheeLmeans for imparting rotary energy to said spring motorv means when the arm and stamping head are swung downwardly, a brake arm pivotally mounted on said supporting structure for JAMES R. THOMAS.

REFERENCES orrED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,070,176 Pritchard Aug. 12, 1913 1,724,380 Thompson Aug. 13, 1929 1,791,303 Ferguson Feb. 3, 1931 1,843,377 Wickwire Feb. 2, 1932 1,981,892 Zimber Nov. 27, 1934 2,132,282 Ajouelo Oct. 4, 1938 2,155,185 Gangel Apr. 18, 1939 2,335,840 Hebenstreit Nov. 30, 1943 

